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Changing Consumption Patterns and Sustainability Issues Hamper EU Meat Market

consumption

Changing Consumption Patterns and Sustainability Issues Hamper EU Meat Market

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Meat and Poultry – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights‘. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The market for meat and poultry in the EU is forecast to decrease at an average yearly rate of -0.4% in the upcoming decade. The drop in consumption is mainly driven by changes in consumer habits to diminish meat in their diet and decreased meat and poultry production to promote sustainability. Demand for beef and pork is expected to fall, while for poultry and sheep, it will increase. In these conditions, alternative proteins will not compete with animal-based meats due to their high costs. Meat and poultry exports to EU countries will decline primarily due to lower demand from Asia.

Key Trends and Insights

Based on the EU Agricultural Outlook 2021-31, IndexBox estimates that the EU meat and poultry market will stagnate in the near future. While global meat consumption is projected to grow at an average annual rate of +1.4% thanks to rising incomes in developing countries, the EU per capita meat consumption is forecast to decline slightly from 68kg in 2022 to 67.5kg per person in 2025.

Shifts in consumption patterns towards lower beef and pork intake constitute the principal factor shaping market stagnation. Even rising demand for poultry and sheep meat will be insufficient to offset that. To struggle with climate change, cattle herds are to be cut, and this could limit market growth from the supply side because the EU market is buoyed by domestic production.

Consumers are paying more attention to production process sustainability, especially animal welfare and environmental footprint; therefore, the organic meat segment is growing. As for meat substitutes, lab meat is not expected to become a competitor to animal-based meat because of low consumer acceptance and the high production cost. Plant-based meat alternatives held a market share of around 1% of total meat sales in 2020 and will not significantly expand in the next five years.

Compared with the 2019-2021 average, beef production in 2022 is forecast to decline by -1.4% to 6.8M tonnes due to herds reducing by -3.3% to 30.7M heads. Pork production will decrease by -1% to 23.5M tonnes, while chicken meat production will increase by +0.6% to 13.7M tonnes. In 2022, sheep meat production will slightly drop by -0.5% to 637K tonnes, but from 2023, it will rise steadily, reaching 648K tonnes by 2025.

By 2031, the market share for EU exports in global trade will decline from 20% to 17% due to decreasing pig meat exports to Asia as China aims to restore its domestic herds by 2026 and thus require fewer imports. In 2020, 16M tonnes of meat and poultry were exported, worth $46.4B.

Meat and Poultry Exports in the EU in 2020

The amount of meat and poultry exported in the EU totalled 16M tonnes in 2020, remaining constant against the previous year. In value terms, meat and poultry exports were estimated at $46.4B.

The most significant shipments were from the Netherlands (3M tonnes), Spain (2.6M tonnes), Germany (2.4M tonnes) and Poland (2.2M tonnes), together resulting in 63% of the total volume. It was distantly followed by Belgium (1.4M tonnes), Denmark (1.3M tonnes) and France (1M tonnes), together with generating a 22% share of total exports.

In value terms, the largest meat and poultry supplying countries in the EU were the Netherlands ($8.7B), Spain ($8B) and Germany ($7B), with a combined 51% share of total exports.

The meat and poultry export price in the EU stood at $2,839 per tonne in 2020, remaining relatively unchanged against the previous year. Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major exporting countries. Major exporters recorded the following prices: in Spain ($3,077 per tonne) and the Netherlands ($2,909 per tonne), while Poland ($2,282 per tonne) and Belgium ($2,286 per tonne) were amongst the lowest. In 2020, the Netherlands attained the most notable price growth rate, while the other leaders experienced more modest increases.

Source: IndexBox Platform 

soap

The Global Soap and Detergent Market Expands Eco-Friendly Product Lines to Meet Growing Demand

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Soap and Detergent – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends, and Insights.’ Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Key Trends and Insights

Due to the increased attention to personal hygiene, as well as home and public place cleaning, the COVID crisis has boosted the soap and detergent market, which reached approx. $132 billion in 2020 (IndexBox estimates, in wholesale prices).

Under new market conditions, manufacturers have faced increasing competition while many businesses switched to the production of cleaning preparations in a bid to survive during lockdowns. The main product trend in 2021 is the production of environmentally friendly and safe detergents.

Manufacturers are trying to replace aggressive chemical components with natural and safe ones and expand their product lines. Another trend is the development of energy-saving low-temperature washing preparations.

New consumption patterns brought by the pandemic are expected to persist in the medium-to-long term. Given this impetus, together with the population growth, rapid urbanization, and rising hygiene attention in the developing world, the market is expected to reach approx. $150B in 2030 (IndexBox estimates).

Global Soap Consumption

The country with the largest volume of soap and detergent consumption was China (20M tonnes), accounting for 22% of the total volume. Moreover, soap and detergent consumption in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, the U.S. (10M tonnes), twofold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by India (7.6M tonnes), with an 8.2% share.

In China, soap and detergent consumption increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% over the period from 2012-2019. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the U.S. (+1.7% per year) and India (+2.0% per year).

In value terms, the largest soap and detergent markets worldwide were the U.S. ($23.5B), China ($20.4B), and India ($10.3B), together comprising 42% of the global market. These countries were followed by Brazil, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Spain, and Viet Nam, which together accounted for a further 25%.

The countries with the highest levels of soap and detergent per capita consumption in 2019 were Turkey (37 kg per person), Spain (34 kg per person), and the U.S. (30 kg per person).

Global Soap Imports

In 2019, approx. 24M tonnes of soap and detergents were imported worldwide, growing by 2.6% against 2018. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% from 2012 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being observed in certain years. In value terms, soap and detergent imports stood at $38.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.

In 2019, Germany (1,706K tonnes), China (1,446K tonnes), France (1,133K tonnes), the U.S. (976K tonnes), the UK (910K tonnes), the Netherlands (883K tonnes), Canada (839K tonnes), Belgium (806K tonnes), Poland (560K tonnes), Italy (528K tonnes), Russia (452K tonnes) and Spain (424K tonnes) was the key importer of soap and detergents in the world, generating 44% of total import. Iraq (412K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

In value terms, Germany ($2.8B), the U.S. ($2.1B), and China ($1.9B) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2019, together accounting for 18% of global imports.

China recorded the highest growth rate of the import value among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2019, the average soap and detergent import price amounted to $1,587 per tonne, standing approx. at the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price continues to indicate a slight shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018, an increase of 3.5% y-o-y. Over the period under review, average import prices attained the maximum at $1,717 per tonne in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2019, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2019, the country with the highest price was the U.S. ($2,150 per tonne), while Iraq ($929 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2019, the most notable growth rate in terms of prices was attained by China, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

business

How To Grow Your Business After COVID-19

COVID-19 has upset economic forecasts and forced many companies worldwide to rethink their business strategy plan for the future. Finding success during this unprecedented time has been a painful process for many companies. Although the pandemic has brought new hurdles to businesses across the globe, it has also created loads of opportunities for retailers. A change in consumer behavior means more people are turning to online marketplaces for their shopping, which has redefined the position of ecommerce and online businesses in the retail sector. But this positive trend isn’t an assurance for future success. You need to develop a plan that intends the growth of your ecommerce business, in a post-pandemic context. Here are a few helpful tips:

1. Revise Your Current Marketing Strategy

Assess your current messaging process to establish whether you’re relaying the right message and positioning your business in the right way to succeed after the pandemic. This step will help you identify and get rid of marketing materials that don’t resonate with the current economic and social situation. Shun sending emails, updating on social media, or engaging in any marketing campaign that may seem insensitive.

Adjust your brand’s messaging to be in line with the unique needs and demands of your customers. Your message should show to both existing and potential customers the value they’ll get from buying your products or services. Offer appropriate, concise, and meaningful communication. Be sure to address the COVID-19 impacts, and the steps that you’re taking to bounce back big time. If you’re thinking about marketing your products to overseas consumers, consider entering a strategic partnership with a professional globalization partner. Optimizing your Global PEO strategy will always benefit your business’s revenues and will help you smoothly navigate your workforce abroad right after the pandemic.

2. Provide Unparalleled Digital Customer Experience

In a rapidly expanding ecommerce landscape where many sellers are providing the same products and services, offering better digital customer experience can set your business apart from your competitors. Some of the things that can help you deliver unrivaled digital customer experience include a smart and user-friendly interface, excellent support, efficient payment options, and the right technology infrastructure.

Poor networks and lack of strong data protection measures can easily damage an otherwise well-built customer experience. Websites and payment portals with poor loading speeds will drive customers away. Consumers will also avoid companies that are vulnerable to hacking and security breaches. So laying a solid foundational infrastructure for your ecommerce business can help it grow in leaps and bounds in the future.

3. Optimize Your Website and Incorporate Live Chat

Ensure your website is as responsive as possible and accessible on a wide array of devices. Enhance your website’s speed and ensure it’s extremely easy to use no matter the device the user is using to view it. Around 48 percent of people use mobile devices to search for product information and to shop. On top of that, 47 percent of digital shoppers prefer a site with a load speed of below two seconds. Avoid driving leads to competitors by creating a highly responsive and user-friendly site.

When a consumer is gathering product information while shopping, they expect answers to their questions right away. If they can’t get a quick response, they’re likely to move on to another online store. Live chat is almost equivalent to in-store customer service due to its ability to bring the advantages of human interactions. It adds a human touch to digital shopping. Most importantly, it can be done remotely.

4. Build Reliable and Diversified Supply Chains

The pandemic has demonstrated that the global economy relies extremely on supply chains, which are susceptible to disruption. With the increasing attention to digital customer experiences, ecommerce and online businesses must invest time and effort into consistently delivering products to consumers if they want to survive after COVID-19. Supply chain interruption can result in shipping and manufacturing setbacks if a company lacks a flexible plan to address ongoing demand.

In addition to investing in excellent network uptime, ecommerce businesses should look for multiple options for obtaining materials and labor. The best way to do this is nurturing relationships with a variety of suppliers, all of whom should have the capacity to comply with the intricate compliance requirements of different sectors. A globalization partner can also connect you with the best local vendors who’ll help you reliably deliver your products to your global customers.

5. Prepare for Capacity Growth

Invest in adequate technology infrastructures, such as servers and bandwidth, to help you deal with more eCommerce traffic. Do a thorough review of your past performances, revised marketing strategy, and latest ecommerce trends to gauge the amount of traffic you’re likely to attract. This information will be important in a proper estimation of demand, and building the right capacity to exploit it.

Adopting cloud computing can help your business provide the best digital customer experience and react to ecommerce trends rapidly. It’s easy to upscale or downscale cloud computing capacity to handle growing demand quickly and effectively. For better control and flexibility, you can invest in a hybrid cloud infrastructure.

6. Be Transparent with Pricing and Consider Lowering Delivery Charges

Post-COVID-19, customer loyalty will be extremely crucial for your company. Consumers share their experiences, both positive and negative, on social media and review sites. Negative reviews can have a major negative impact on your profits margin. Avoid concealing extra fees or details that may come as an undesirable surprise during the final stages of finalizing a purchase.  Be transparent from the initial stages to keep customers pleased and loyal.

A large number of regular online shoppers end up making more purchases when shipping is free or considerably low. Lowering or doing away with delivery charges could result in a significant uptick in sales. If your current profit margins can’t accommodate this, consider value addition. You can give a discounted delivery on purchases exceeding a specific value.

Conclusion

The high ecommerce demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to become permanent even after brick-mortar stores resume operation, especially if it follows the normal trends of online shopping habits. Companies that adapt quickly will stand a better chance at growing their businesses and expanding their profit margins by exploiting this great opportunity. The above 6 tips will help them grow their businesses even in post-pandemic circumstances.